Mortal Kombat has been at the center of controversy since its release. The media, Congress and gamers have very strong reactions when they hear the now classic “Get over here!” said by Scorpion. No matter what your opinion is, it’s hard to dispute the impact Mortal Kombat has had on the fighting game genre. Ed Boon, co-creator and game creative Director on Mortal Kombat 9, has plans to impact the industry yet again. This time, however a decision is being that will forever change the way we perceive Mortal Kombat.
In a recent Q&A, Ed Boon talked about a move the development team is making that has never been done before: consulting with professional-level players. Boon stated they “…are consciously putting in features for the hardcore/tournament fighters and we have some amazing fighting game ‘experts’ playing our game and giving us constant feedback”. Boon also wants the game to be more accessible to both the casual and the hardcore fighter, he stated:
“We’ve put in a lot of thought on how to make this game accessible to the casual gamer and at the same time add enough depth that it keeps the more advanced players challenged. One way we’ve done that is to create more distinctive characters with more unique move sets and fighting styles.”
Boon then defined exactly how his team plans to carry out what, for the Mortal Kombat series, is a first:
“Another way we’ve added depth is by introducing short windows of opportunity where the advanced players can enhance, modify, or interrupt their moves, something the more hardcore gamers will definitely be interested in. The casual gamers can still enjoy the game without having to dive that deep into the gameplay but if they do want to explore those more complex moves they may be inspired to spend a little more time playing.”
Even with such drastic changes being made to the franchise, Boon still wants the presentation to be true to its roots. On the subject of presentation, he said “…the team and the fans have been interested in a return to the 2D fighting plane for a while now.” Mortal Kombat is synonymous with fighting games and, if all goes according to plan, it could become a serious player in the tournament circuit as well. It’s unknown exactly what the future of the next Mortal Kombat will be, but pushing the game in a new direction could be successful if done right.
Mortal Kombat 9 currently has an open release window of sometime in 2011.
